What is the Difference Between Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism

Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism are two related medical terms. This is because Parkinsonism is an umbrella term for a group of disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, atypical Parkinsonian disorders, drug-induced Parkinsonism, and vascular Parkinsonism. All these disorders may share similar symptoms such as slow movements, balance problems, and tremors.

The key difference between Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism is their nature. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative age-related brain condition that causes severe symptoms in muscle control, balance, and movement, while Parkinsonism is an umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that describes a collection of similar movement symptoms such as slowed movement, rigidity, and tremors.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Parkinson’s Disease 
3. What is Parkinsonism
4. Similarities – Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism
5. Parkinson’s Disease vs Parkinsonism in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism
7. FAQ – Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a condition where a part of the brain deteriorates with time, causing severe symptoms in muscle control, balance, and movement. It usually occurs in people aged over 60. It is also more common in men than in women. The symptoms of this condition may include slow movements, tremors while muscles are at rest, rigidity or stiffness, unstable posture or walking gait, blinking less often than usual, cramped or small handwriting, drooling, mask-like facial expression, trouble swallowing, soft speaking voice, autonomic nervous system symptoms, depression, loss of sense of smell, sleep problems, trouble thinking, and focusing. Parkinson’s disease can be caused by genetics because of problems with how your body uses a protein called α-synuclein and medications, encephalitis, toxins and poisons, and damage from injuries. 

Parkinson’s disease can be diagnosed through a physical examination, blood tests, CT scans, MRI, PET scans, genetic testing, spinal taps, and skin biopsies. Furthermore, treatment options for Parkinson’s disease may include adding dopamine, stimulating dopamine, using dopamine metabolism blockers, employing levodopa metabolism inhibitors, utilizing adenosine blockers, deep brain stimulation, stem cell transplants, neuron repair therapy, and gene or gene-targeted therapy.

What is Parkinsonism?

Parkinsonism is an umbrella term that refers to brain conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, atypical Parkinsonian disorders, drug-induced Parkinsonism, and vascular Parkinsonism that cause slowed movements, rigidity, and tremors. These conditions can be caused by many reasons, including genetic mutations, reactions to medications, and infections. The common symptoms of Parkinsonism may include slowed movement, tremors, stiffness or rigidity, unstable posture, flexed, hunched or stooped posture, and freezing.

Parkinsonism can be diagnosed through a physical examination, blood tests, CT scans, MRI, and PET scans. Treatment options for Parkinsonism may include stopping any medication that caused the condition, placing a shunt to relieve pressure and allow excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to drain out of the skull, administering levodopa, and removing excess copper from the body to prevent Wilson’s disease from causing permanent brain damage.

Similarities Between Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism

1. Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism are two related medical terms. 
2. Parkinsonism is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that includes Parkinson’s disease, atypical Parkinsonian disorders, drug-induced Parkinsonism, and vascular Parkinsonism. 
3. Both may share similar symptoms, such as slow movements, balance problems, and tremors.
4. Both these can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests, and genetic testing. 
5. They can be treated through specific medication therapies. 

Difference Between Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism

Definition

1. Parkinson’s disease is a condition where part of the brain gradually deteriorates, leading to severe symptoms in muscle control, balance, and movement.
2. Parkinsonism is a broad term that includes Parkinson’s disease as well as other conditions such as atypical parkinsonian disorders, drug-induced Parkinsonism, and vascular Parkinsonism, all of which cause slowed movements, rigidity, and tremors.

Causes

1. Parkinson’s disease can be caused by genetics, issues with the body’s use of a protein called α-synuclein, certain medications, encephalitis, toxins, poisons, and brain injuries.
2. Parkinsonism can be caused by genetic mutations, reactions to medications, and infections.

Symptoms

1. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include slow movements, resting tremors, rigidity or stiffness, unstable posture or walking gait, less frequent blinking, small or cramped handwriting, drooling, a mask-like facial expression, trouble swallowing, a soft speaking voice, autonomic nervous system symptoms, depression, loss of sense of smell, sleep problems, and cognitive issues.
2. Symptoms of Parkinsonism include slowed movement, tremors, stiffness or rigidity, unstable posture, a flexed, hunched, or stooped posture, and freezing.

Diagnosis

1. Parkinson’s disease can be diagnosed through a physical examination, blood tests, CT scans, MRI, PET scans, genetic testing, spinal taps, and skin biopsies.
2. Parkinsonism can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests, CT scans, MRI, and PET scans.

Treatment

1. Treatment for Parkinson’s disease includes adding dopamine, stimulating dopamine receptors, using dopamine metabolism blockers, employing levodopa metabolism inhibitors, utilizing adenosine blockers, deep brain stimulation, stem cell transplants, neuron repair therapy, and gene or gene-targeted therapy.
2. Treatment for Parkinsonism may involve stopping medications that caused the condition, placing a shunt to relieve pressure and drain excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the skull, administering levodopa, and removing excess copper from the body to prevent Wilson’s disease from causing permanent brain damage. 

The following table summarizes the difference between Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism.

Summary – Parkinson’s Disease vs Parkinsonism

Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism are two associated medical terms. This is because Parkinson’s disease is a type of Parkinsonism. In Parkinson’s disease, a part of the brain deteriorates with time, causing severe symptoms in muscle control, balance, and movement while Parkinsonism is an umbrella term that refers to brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease, atypical Parkinsonian disorders, drug-induced Parkinsonism, and vascular Parkinsonism, which cause slowed movements, rigidity, and tremors. This is the summary of the difference between Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism.

FAQ: Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism

1. What is Parkinson’s disease caused by?

• Many researchers believe that Parkinson’s disease results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as genetic mutations, abnormal proteins, medications, and exposure to toxins.

2. What is the life expectancy of Parkinson’s disease?

• Parkinson’s disease is not a fatal disease. It is more common after age 60. However, the symptoms and effects are often contributing factors to death. The average life expectancy for Parkinson’s disease earlier was a little under 10 years, but now the average life expectancy has increased by about 55%.

3. What are the common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

• Tremor including rhythmic shaking usually begins in a limb (often the hand or fingers), slowed movement, rigid muscles, impaired posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, speech changes and writing changes are the common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

4. What is Parkinsonism caused by?

• Parkinsonism refers to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and other related diseases that usually are caused by brain injuries, certain drugs, toxins, and infections in the body.

5. How to diagnose Parkinsonism?

• Parkinsonism diagnosis is made by a doctor trained in nervous system conditions, known as a neurologist. A diagnosis of Parkinsonism is based on your medical history, a review of your symptoms, a neurological, physical exam, blood test, imaging tests, and genetic testing.

Reference:

1. “Parkinson’s Disease: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Parkinsonism: What It Is, Causes & Types.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Parkinson disease symtpoms” By CarrotsMitHummus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Person with Parkinson disease” By William Gowers – File:Drawings_of_a_Parkinson_patient_by_William_Gowers.jpg (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

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